Ore-concentrator.



' N0. 829,443. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906;

W. R. THURSTOhL ORB GONOENTRATOR. APPLIUATION FILED JULYZZ. 1905,

Tn: NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGYON, a. c.

WALTER R. THURSTON, OF DOUGLAS, ARIZONA TERRTTORY.

ORE-CONCENTRATOFL' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

Application filed July 22, 1905. Serial No. 270,856.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a middle vertical section or my concentrator, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail of the controlling-valve of the discharge-spout for the concentrates; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the pan-wall, showing a glazed lining.

The object of my invention is to construct a concentrator which will effectively separate the comminuted ore according to specific gravity of the metals and gangue composing it, the present invention belonging to that class in which water is employed as the medium in which the separation takes place.

A further object is to construct a machine which will effect the concentration in a mini mum amount of time, one in which the pulp is subjected to a progressively-diminishing agitation whereby more effective and positive concentration results, one in which the pro gressively-concentrated ore is delivered toward the point of lowest agitation in proportion as the separation takes place, one in which the waste pulp is conveyed to and removed from the point of lowest agitation, thereby eliminating a maximum quantity of waste or tailings from the concentrates, one

which is simple in construction, and one possessing further and other advantages better apparent from a detailed description of the invention, which is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, F represents a suitable frame constructed, preferably, of angleiron, which supports the operating parts of the apparatus. Supported within the center of the frame is a vertical rockshaft S, resting in a bottom bearing B and passing through an upper bearing B on the frame. Depending from and secured to the dish-shaped or concave pan 5.

frame in any mechanical manner is a feedhopper 1, provided with a central tube 2, through which the shaft S passes, the lower portion of the peripheral walls of said hopper being provided with openings 8, which discharge the pulp from the hopper onto a conical disk or distributer 4, secured to the hopper, the pulp running over the outer edges of the distributer and discharging at points contiguous to the outer edges of an oscillating The pan may have an inner lining of enamel 6, Fig. 4, or glass, rubber, or other preparation to resist the corroding action of acids and also to assist in the adhesion of fine particles of mineral thereto. The pan envelops the shaft S and is coupled thereto through the medium of a supporting-spider 7, which is secured to the pan and directly supports the same, the spider being provided with a hub 8, which can be adjusted along the shaft vertically and secured thereto by a screw 9, as shown. Likewise adjustable along the shaft is an overflow conduit or pipe 10, which has formed therewith a central sleeve 11, enveloping and protecting the shaft, the parts when once adjusted being secured to the shaft by a screw 12, passed through a collar 13, formed with the parts 10 11. Leading from the base of the conduit 10 is a discharge-spout 14, which conveys the waste overflow or tailings into a launder 15. The conduit 10 passes through a suitable stufling-box 16 on the pan, as shown in Fig. 1.

Mounted in suitable bearings 17 17 on the frame F is a drive-shaft 18, provided with an eccentric disk 19, about which is loosely passed the strap 20 of an eccentric-rod 21, the opposite end of the latter being loosely coupled to the outer edge of the pan 5. WVith the rotation of the shaft 18 there is thus imparted an oscillating motion (of two or three inches at the outer edge of the pan in practice) to the pan, the rock-shaft S being correspondingly rocked in its bearings, being that the pan is secured to the rock-shaft. In practice, of course the shaft S might be made stationary and the pan supported loosely thereon and oscillated about it, as is obvious, without departing from the nature of the invention. The drive-shaft is provided with a belt-pulley P, from which leads a belt 22, leading to any motor or engine. (Not shown.)

Leading from the bottom of the pan 5 at a point contiguous but exterior to the overflowconduit 10 is a spout 23, the discharge end of which is controlled by a valve 24, pivoted to a bracket 25, carried by the spout, the inner or valve end of the valve being held in a closed position by the retracting action of a coiled spring 26, whose one end is secured to the outer arm of the valve and whose opposite end is secured to the bracket 25. As the pan oscillates with each alternate stroke the terminal lug 27 of the valve 24 strikes the adjacent end of an adjustable tap et-screw 28, carried by an arm 29 on the ame F. In thus striking the tappet 28 the latter oscillates the valve 24 sufliciently to open the discharge end of the spout 23, allowing the concentrates to be intermittently discharged into a trough 30. With the return stroke of the pan the valve passes out of the influence of the tappet 28, leaving the spring 26 free to close the valve. By adjusting the tappet 28 the extent of oscillation of the valve 24 may be correspondingly adjusted according to the requirements arising in any particular case.

The operation of the device is as follows: The wet pulp delivered to the hopper 1 Hows down through the openings 3 onto the distributer or disk 4, where it flows into the pan 5 at points contiguous to its outer edge or points of greatest agitation. 7 As the shaft 18 rotates it imparts an oscillating motion to the pan about the axis of the rock-shaft S, the points nearest the shaft being of course subjected to minimum speed or least agitation, as it is desirable that at such points the lighter waste or tailings shall be subjected to the least amount of agitation and at such points be drawn ofl. The pulp as it enters the pan (see three tailed arrows in Fig. 1) becomes agitated, the tailings or waste overflowing into the conduit 10 and out through the spout 14 into the launder 15. (See feathered arrows.) The concentrates gradually work toward the center of the pan, eventually running into the spout 23. (See plain arrows.) As the pan oscillates the valve 24 intermittently opens the discharge end of said spout, allowing the concentrates to discharge into the trough 30. It will thus be seen that the material enters the pan 5 at points of greatest speed and agitation, thereby initially and effectively separating the concentrates from the tailings, the material being gradually subjected to less and less agitation, allowing the waste products to be withdrawn near the axis of oscillation of the pan, where a minimum amount of oscillation takes place. Likewise are the concentrates removed from the pan at a point where the agitation is comparatively small and where any material not drawn through the overflow-conduit 10 has time to settle.

Having described my invention, what I claim is-- A concentrator comprising a stationary hopper having discharge openings, a distributer below the hopper for conducting the material discharged from the hopper, an oscillating disk-shaped or concave pan below the distributer for receiving the material from the distributer at points adjacent to the outer edge of the pan, -an overflow-pipe for the waste having an inner sleeve passed centrally throughthe pan and adjustable vertically within the pan, a stuffing-box on the pan through which the pipe passes, a central shaft for supporting the pan and overflowpipe, means for oscillating the pan and overflow-pipe about the axis of theshaft, a spout leadingfrom the overflow-pipe, and a valvecontrolled discharge-spout leading from the pan at a point exterior, but contiguous to, the overflow-pipe, for the discharge of the concentrates, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l/VALTER R. THURSTON. Witnesses W. S..DIxoN, DOLLIE HoFER. 

